Here is a list of commonly used acronyms or "shortened" words and what they stand for. The list assumes that you already have a pretty good knowledge of your car already. Please refer to the FAQ thread in the "How To" section for more basic information. As always, please add on and I will keep updating this thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif)

DSM - Diamond Star Motors. Any 1g, 2g that has a 4g63 engine in it. The 420a does not fall under this category, it is Chrysler made.

OEM - original equipment manufacterer. Anything your car comes with from the factory is referred to as OEM

ECU - Engine computer. Controls pretty much everything that has to do with your engine.

BOV - blow off valve. Vents pressurized air from intake system. Used in conjunction with turbochargers.

Recirc - the pipe that goes from the BOV to the intake. It recirculates the air vented by the BOV.

UICP - upper intercooler pipe. Typically aftermarket and made from metal. BOV mounts to this piece

MAFT - MAF translator. Used in conjunction with a GM MAF

GM MAF - MAF sensor from a General Motors vehicle. Typically 3" diameter with a black sensor housing on top. Installed in UICP after BOV. Two functions include: 1. ability to remove the stock MAF thereby increasing intake flow; 2. allowing one to vent their BOV to atmosphere getting the "whoosh" sound without the ECU corrections that result in poor performance.

BFP - base fuel pressure. 43.5 psi on 2g 4g63 cars and 1g 5-speed cars. 39.5 on 1g automatic 4g63 cars? (please correct me I don't think that's right)

AFPR - adjustable fuel pressure regulator. allows one to adjust their base fuel pressure. To be affective an AFPR with a 1:1 rising rate ratio and pressure range of 30-70+ psi is necessary. This acronym refers to an aftermarket regulator.

FPR - fuel pressure regulator. This acronym typically refers to the stock regulator.

SMIM - sheet metal intake manifold. Aftermarket.

TB - throttle body. Mounts to the intake manifold and regulates throttle operation/air intake flow.

SMIC - side mount intercooler. Stock on 1g and 2g 4g63 cars and mounts right in front of the passenger wheel. Sometimes an OEM supra SMIC can be used as an upgrade but typically refers to the one that came with your car.

FMIC - front mount intercooler. Aftermarket intercooler that mounts in the middle behind the front bumper.

BAR - Metric measurement of pressure. 1 BAR = 14.5 psi.

PSI - pound per square inch of pressure. Standard measurement of pressure

VAC - vacuum. Measured in mm/hg = millimeters of mercury and is opposite of PSI/BAR.

RPM - revolutions per minute. How the speed of an engine is measured.

AFC - air fuel controller. Typically this refers to a device made by Apexi that allows one to make adjustments to fuel at user specified RPM and throttle position.

TPS - throttle position sensor. Mounts on the TB and tells the ECU how far you have the gas pedal pressed.

CPS - cam position sensor. Typically found on the exhaust cam of 420a cars. 4g63 cars use a trigger plate on the intake cam or CAS. This sensor tells the ECU at what position the cams are during engine operation. Cam position is measured in degrees from 0-360.

CAS - cam angle sensor. Found on 1g 4g63 cars. It tells the ECU what position the cams are in.

TDC - top dead center. When the piston in the first cyl is at it's highest point.

CYL - cylinder

TURBO - turbocharger. Uses engergy from the exhaust system to spin a compressor wheel thereby compressing the intake charge and forcing it into the engine.

Injector - fuel injector. Basically it's a valve that opens when an electric pulse is sent allowing pressurized fuel to flow through into the intake charge.

O2 housing - a cast housing that transfers exhaust from the turbine housing/wastegate to the downpipe. OEM on 4g63 turbo car turbo's

DP - downpipe. Exhaust pipe from the O2 housing to the catalytic converter

CAT - catalytic converter.

Mitsu - mitsubishi. If I needed to explain this one you probably wouldn't be on this board (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

External Gate - wastegate actuator that mounts in an 02 housing or turbo manifold

External Dump - a pipe that moutns to an external wastegate that vents its exhaust outside of the exhaust system.

AWD - all wheel drive. Eclipse GSX, Talon TSI AWD and subaru's are all wheel drive. I shouldn't have to explain this further

FWD - front wheel drive. All 1g/2g dsm's that aren't awd and all 420a cars are FWD

HP - Horsepower.

BHP - base horsepower or brake horsepower. The power your engine makes measured at the crankshaft.

TQ - torque

ftlbs or ft/lbs - torque

WHP - wheel horsepower. The power your engine makes at the wheels.

AWHP - all wheel horsepower. The power an AWD car makes at all 4 wheels.

AC or A/C - air conditioning. Keeps you cool in the summer time and steals about 35hp.

FIAV - fast idle air valve. A valve that has a wax pellet inside of it. The pellet is hard when the engine is cold thereby allowing more air into the engine during idle. This keeps the idle higher than normal and will help warm the engine up. Once the engine is warm the pellet melts and then restricts some of that additional air allowing the idle to come down to where it should be (700-800 RPM)

ISC - idle speed control motor. Found on 4g63 cars this sensor controls idle speed. It also is the reason your RPM's drop and then come back up whenever you are at idle and turn the A/C on.

IAC - idle air controller. A sensor with a plunger that controls the amount of air getting into the engine at idle(warm or cold) thereby controlling idle. Found on 420a cars

MPG - miles per gallon. If you need this explained please google (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif)

N/T - non turbo.

N/A - naturally aspirated. Meaning that vacuum is used to draw air and fuel into an engine. This engine does not have any kind of forced induction.

CAI - cold air intake. Usually a long pipe with an air filter on the end. Its meant to extend outside of the engine bay to draw in colder air

SRI - short ram intake. Usually a short pipe with an air filter on the end. It is meant to reduce restriction drawing in more air than the stock intake system will allow.

BRM - something that is ghey or stupid.

Crank - crankshaft

Rod - connecting rod

Stroker - typically a 4g63 engine that has been modified with a bigger crank and shorter pistons turning it into a 2.3L

Destroker - a 4g64 engine with a 4g63 crank, longer rods, and 4g64 pistons turning it into a 2.1L

Cam - camshaft.

WOT - wide open throttle. your gas pedal is on the floor

WBO2 - wide band O2 sensor. This is the ONLY sensor that will tell you your actual air fuel ratio. the A/F gauge is just for show

A/F - air fuel ratio

A/F Gauge - air fuel gauge. pretty light show that works off of your stock narrow band O2 sensor. not accurate, for show only

NBO2 - narrow band O2 sensor. OEM sensor that takes a guess at the A/F to let the ECU know how to make fuel trim changes.

FTW - For The Win. typically used to describe something good.

AEM - aftermarket equipment manufacterer. Anything you get for your car that is not factory made is referred to as AEM

AEM could also mean the company Advanced Engine Management which specializes in aftermarket bolt ons and eletronic devices

You are truly a master of suspense...


Also, how come a 420A equipped Eclipse isn't a DSM, if I have a DSM sticker on my door jamb?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I guess I forgot to finish that sentence

DSM typically refers to 4g63 cars because of the engine. 420a cars are usually referred to as 2gnt's, 420a car, N/T, things like that

Cumpressor - something or somebody that is ghey or stupid.

lol

LMAO!!

CPS could mean (cam or crank) position sensor on a 420A. They ctually gave two different parts the same abbreviation.

On a 4g63 it's called a CAS (cam angle sensor)

This one confused me for a while.

CONTROL COMPUTERS

ECU Electronic Control Unit, Engine Control Unit

ECM Engine Control Module (same as ECU)

PCM Powertrain Control Module (usually a ECU and TCM combined)

TCM Transmission Control Module

ETACS Electric Time and Alarm Control System (Gateway computer that inter-connects all the others. Also controls windows, wipers etc.)

SENSORS

MAF Mass Air Flow

MAP Manifold Absolute Pressure

VAS Volume Airflow Sensor (Mitsu only acronym) (generically known as an air flow meter or MAF)

TRACTION CONTROL

ABS Anti-lock Braking System

S-ABS Sport ABS

TCL Traction Control

ECS Electronic Control Suspension

ASTC Active Skid and Traction Control

AYC Active Yaw Control (1st appeared on the EVO IV)

ASC Active Skid Control or Active Stability Control

ACD Active Center Differential

AWC All Wheel Control

SAWC Super All Wheel Control

EBD Electronic Brake-force Distribution

KEYLESS SYSTEMS

RKE Remote Keyless Entry, all the pushbutton remotes

WCM Wireless Control Module, Wireless base station computer for RKE

FAST and KOS, Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter and Keyless Operating System, both referring to the exact same thing, the new hands free proximity remote system where you just grab the door handle and it unlocks, and turn the knob on the ignition (no key), provided you are carrying the remote on your person.

KOS-ECU Wireless ECU for FAST and TPMS

OTHERS

DSM District Service Manager the person you may end up talking to if none of the Mitsu dealers in your area are taking care of your warranty problem

TPMS Tire Pressure Monitoring System, wireless sensors located on the tire valve stem, mandatory on all US vehicles since '08,. That little light on the dash that comes on if you neglect to keep your tires at the right air pressure or get a slow leak or flat. So you don't roll your POC Ford Exploder SUV into the ditch because of the POS Firestone tires.

VVT Variable Valve Timing, ECU controlled (with oil pressure) variable cam timing to maximize economy and power

MIVEC Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Electronic Control (same as VVT)

TC-SST Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission, the new 6 spd trans on the 4th Gen Eclipse and EVO X with the paddle shifters on the wheel. It's essentially a sequential shift manual trans with electronic shifting, like on F1 cars.

CVT Continuously Variable Transaxle (Transmission). An auto trans with 2 expanding/contracting drums with a steel chain-belt between them, the drums change size in respect to each other with control from the TCM thereby changing the drive ratio. Supposedly more efficient because it's always in gear, no shifts.

EFI Electronic Fuel Injection

MFI Multiport Fuel Injection, EFI with one (or two) injector(s) per cylinder

TSB Technical Service Bulletin, Info from the factory engineers, for the technician, to repair your car, usually after the horses have left the barn.

SRS Supplemental Restraint System, airbags and exploding seat belt retractors

DTC's Diagnostic Trouble Codes, Numbered codes that signify problems with different EFI and emission components, also used with other systems like SRS, ABS etc. There are two numbering systems, universal OBD numbers and factory designated numbers. All manufactures must use universal OBD numbers for certain items although they can use their numbers also.

CEL Check Engine Light, The annoying light on the dash that signifies the ECU has just found and registered a problem and set a DTC. It can mean something the tech can't find even after you spend $100 (evap codes), or if you ignore it you won't get 5 blocks (oil pressure codes)

DLC Data Link Connector The universal 16 pin OBD electrical connector usually under the driver side of the dash that you connect to your Scan tool to read DTC's.

Scan Tool, a hand held computer that reads and erases DTC's. Can be a laptop, or smaller than a cell phone. Costing from $10K to $70

OBD, On Board Diagnostics, the federally mandated universal system of electronic diagnosis for EFI and emission controls, utilizing DTC's and scan tools. Currently OBD II.

I could go on, the Mitsu engineers are wacko when it comes to acronyms, but it gets more technical and obscure.

some other of my faves

FUBAR F**ked Up Beyond All Recognition

SOL Ship On Land, or S**t Out of Luck

FMF Flying Machine Factory, or Fast Mother F**ker

What about DIN?

DIN is short for Deutsches Institut für Normung which was an international standard for car radio sizzes developed in Germany by The Deutsches Institut für Normung (Hence the name... lol). It was adopted as an international standard in 1984. On average--though there are a few exceptions of course-- Single DIN units are standard in Europe, South America and Australasia and Double DIN units are standard in Japan and North America.

EDIT: Also, Deutsches Institut für Normung translates literally to "German institute for Standardization" Yay for cognates! lol

STI = sexual transmitted Infection

Also, GM's are notorious for DIN 1.5. Bastages!!!! Makes you install ugly kits for buy older Pioneer 1.5 decks.